92 The Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



market-men and amateurs about Boston, was a most obscure point to 

 settle, baffling all investigation for a long time, even Mr. Downer's 

 persistent research. After years of examination, it was first identified 

 with the English Williams's Bon Chretien, by that most accurate and 

 pains-taking pomologist, Robert Manning, of Salem, whose modesty 

 was only surpassed by his great attainments in his favorite pursuit. 

 He pronounced it the best of all summer pears, and showed conclu- 

 sively that it originated in England about i 7S0, and was imported with a 

 lot of other English pear trees into Boston, early in this century, by a 

 Mr. Carter, who afterwards sold his place to Enoch Bartlett ; hence its 

 name. This noble fruit, which had but a local reputation about Bos- 

 ton, when the society was formed, is now probably more extensively 

 grown than any pear whatever, from its size, beauty, excellence, and 

 early, abundant, and regular bearing. It accommodates itself to all 

 climates, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the Pacific. Mr. 

 Manning first announced his discovery of its origin in the New Eng- 

 land Farmer, July 2, 1S30. 



At a quarterly meeting in March, 1829, "Women's Rights " were 

 incidentally and good-naturedly discussed, on a proposition to admit 

 Mrs. Governor Gore, Miss Dix, and Mrs. Griffith (of New Jersey), 

 as honorary members. Some thought it of doubtful expediency, as a 

 woman in the garden made great trouble as long ago as the days of 

 Adam. General Dearborn, however, silenced all cavillers, and they 

 were elected. At one of the weekly meetings that year, one hundred 

 different varieties of the carnation pink were exhibited ; and in Sep- 

 tember Mr. Lowell sent a bunch of Malaga grapes from his green- 

 house which weighed three pounds, and one of Black Hamburg, 

 weighing one pound and five ounces. 



The first anniversary, or rather public dinner and exhibition of the 

 society was held at the Exchange Coffee House, on the 19th of Septem- 

 ber, 1829, that being a good season for making a display of fruits and 

 flowers on the dinner tables, as no other general fall exhibition was 

 licld. The hall and tables were splendidly decorated with fruits, flow- 

 ers, and singing birds, and the hall crowded with ladies and other 

 spectators from twelve to two o'clock. At four, the society, with their 



